Window blind with vertical slats



Dec. 1, 1964 A. KRUELL wmnow BLIND WITH VERTICAL SLATS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flmar 21:

.I o l! o 0 l 4 O o o m m w m; o I. o o

Dec. 1, 1964 A. KRUELL 3,159,204

WINDOW BLIND WITH VERTICAL SLA'I'S Filed Aug. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 0 4,; A44 14 Dec. 1, 1964 A. KRUELL WINDOW BLIND WITH VERTICAL SLATS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 90 d. 0 r 14/ 8 Z Dec. 1, 1964 A. KRUELL 3,159,204

WINDOW BLIND WITH VERTICAL SLATS Filed Aug. 6, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9

INVEN TOR. A di-qr kHz 1.

W x rm- & 0

United States Patent 3,159,204 WOW BLIND WITH VERTHCAL SLATS Andreas Kruell, Am Uberton 6, Neuss (Rhine), Germany Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No.214,967 Claims priority, application Germany Aug. 4, 1961 6 Claims. (Cl. 160168) The present invention relates to window blinds, and more specifically to window blinds having substantially vertical about longitudinal axes turnable slats. The slats of the blind are provided at the upper ends thereof with support members which are in turn guided by means of sliders or rolls in an upper guide rail, or support members with sliders or rolls may also be provided at the upper and lower ends of each slot, especially when the slats are made from flexible material and the upper and lower rolls are then respectively guided in upper and lower guide rails. The slats of the window blind are not only turnable about their respective longitudinal axes, but the slats are also movable toward and away from each other between gathered and an extended position. The ends of the support members of the adjacent slats are connected together by flexible connecting means in order to keep uniform distances between the individual slats in the extended position of the window blind and in order to maintain the slats in parallel planes during turning of the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window blind of the type described, in which the means for moving the slats of the blind between a gathered and an extended position and for turning the slats in the extended position about their axes are constituted by elements which will take up very little room so as not to increase unnecessarily the space required for the mounting of the window blind.

It is a further object of the present invention to connect the slat at the one end of the row of slats forming the window blind to the side wall of a window opening in which the blind is to be mounted, in such a manner that the slats of the blind in the gathered position thereof can be pushed directly against the side wall of the window opening to which the one slat is connected.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide flexible connecting means between the slats which will not sag when the plurality of slats forming the window blind are moved from the extended to the gathered position and in which the flexible connecting means will fold between the individual slats or the supporting members thereof substantially without sagging.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide for a window blind of the type described in which the slats in the extended ahd closed position thereof form a substantially closed curtain which will prevent substantially any light passing through the blind and which will also exclude substantially any air streams from passing therethrough.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a window blind of the type described which consists only of a few and rugged parts so that the window blind can be manufactured at low cost.

With the above objects in view, the window blind of the present invention essentially comprises a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movabletoward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extended position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normalto a plane passing through the pivot axes thereof and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slats are closely adjacent each other. Each of the slat means has an upper and lower support member extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means and the window blind includes further support means connected at least to the upper supporting member of each slat means for supporting the slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to the axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto. Connecting means connect adjacent slat means for simultaneous and transverse and turning movement and operating means are fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means on one end of the row for moving the one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and therewith all of the slat means between a gathered and an extended position and for turning the slat means about their pivot axes. The slat means on the other end of the row is connected by a flexible means to the side wall of a window opening so that the slat means at the other end of the row may abut against the side wall when all of the slat means are moved to the gathered position thereof.

The aforementioned support means preferably include roller means connected at least to the upper of the support members of each slat means and guiderail means extending transverse to the pivot axes of the slat means are provided for guiding the roller means of all slat means.

Preferably each of the support members are formed with a pair of elongated cutouts extending respectively from opposite ends of the elongated support members toward each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms and the aforementioned connecting means preferably comprise a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means respectively extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of the support members, turnably mounted therein, and a pair of flexible bands having each a substantially vertical extending cross section and being respectively fixed at spaced portions thereof to the pivot means at opposite ends of the support members, which bands will fold between the fixed portions thereof toward one side of the pivot means when the slat means are moved to the gathered position thereof.

In a preferred form, each of the pivot means of the connecting means include a substantially vertical pivot pin extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of the support members and having each opposite end portions eccentrically arranged with respect to the remainder of the pivot pin and respectively pivotally mounted in thefree ends of the arms, and a bearing member mounted on the pivot pin between the opposite ends thereof. With this preferred construction of the pivot means it is possible to bring longitudinal edge portions of adjacent slats in abutting engagement when the slats of the window blinds are turned to the closed positions thereof.

A further improved construction, especially used when the slats of the window blinds are formed from very thin material, includes also spring means for tensioning each of the slats in longitudinal direction and in this preferred construction means are also provided to substantially prevent the spring means from exerting any turning moment to the slats.

The window blind of the present invention-may also include means for resiliently locking the slats in selected angularly turned positions and for releasably locking the window blind in extended position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,'both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial, partially sectioned side view of a top portion of a slat of a window blind according to the present invention and showing the means for supporting the same;

FIG. la is a partial sectioned view drawn to an enlarged scale and showing a modification of the connecting means shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic top view similar to FIG. 2 but drawn to a smaller scale and showing the slats in substantially closed position;

FIG. 4 is a top view similar to FIG. 3, also drawn to a smaller scale and showing a different modification of the connecting means;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a window blind according to the present invention and showing the same mounted in a window opening;

FIG. 6 is a partial section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5 and showing only the lower part of the window blind;

FIG. 6a is a cross section taken along the lines 6a6a of FIG. 6 and showing only the rail;

FIG. 7a is a partial top view of a support for a window blind according to the present invention, and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7b is a top view similar to FIG. 7a and showing a different modification of this construction;

FIG. 8a is a cross sectional through FIG. 7a taken along the line 8a-8a;

FIG. 8b is a cross section through the construction shown in FIG. 7b and taken along the line di -8b in FIG. 7b;

FIG. 9 is a partial side view similar to FIG. 1 and showing a diiferent embodiment; 7

FIG. 9a is an end view of the modification shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the modification shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 9 and beingdrawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, and especially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the same, it will be seen that the window blind according to the present invention comprises a plurality of elongated slats I, only the upper end of which is shown in FIG. 1, and an upper support member 2 extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat 1 along the upper end edge thereof and being fastened thereto in any convenient manner. FIG. 1 shows only the upper of the support members 2, but it is to be understood that a support member 2 of exactly the same construction is connected to the lower edge of each slat 1. The slat 1 is formed from thin sheet material, such as plastic, metal or any similar material commonly used in forming the slats of window blinds The supporting members 2 are formed from substantially rigid material and having a thickness greater than that of the slat 1.

Support means are connected at least to the upper support member 2 of each slat supporting the slat turnable about a longitudinal central pivot axis and movable transverse to the axis toward and away from the slats adjacentthereto. These support means comprise a supporting rod 3 turnably mounted in the support member 2 and carrying at the upper free end thereof follower means, which may include, as shown in the drawing, an axle extending traverse to the supporting rod 3 to opposite sides thereof, and turnable carrying on each of its opposite ends a roller 4. The follower means, respectively the rollers 4 are in turn supponted and guided in hollow substantially rectangular guide rail means 5 formed in the lower portions thereof with a slot through which the supporting rod 3 extends and the flanges of the rollers 4 extend with lower portions thereof through the slot so that rollers 4 are prevented from slipping off the transverse axle. The upper portion of the hollow rectangular guide rail means 5 is provided with laterally projecting flanges which are fastened, for instance by screws, or in any other convenient manner to a top wall forming part of a window opening on which the blind is used.

Each of the supporting members 2 is formed with a pair of elongated cutouts 2a extending respectively from opposite ends of the elongated support member 2 toward each other so as to form at each end of each support member 2 a pair of substantially parallel arms 20, or the support member 2 may be formed, as shown in FIG. 1a, by two elongated spaced portions 20 held parallel and properly spaced from each other by narrow webs 2b integral with the arms 2c and spaced from the outer ends of the arms as well as from each other. The thickness of the webs 2b is, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, smaller than that of the arms 20. A connecting member 2d, in which the rod 3 is guided, extends between the central portions of the arms 20. Preferred arrangements of this connecting member and the members associated therewith will be described later on in detail in connection with FIGS. 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b.

Connecting means are also provided for connecting the plurality of slats I of the window blind for simultaneous transverse and turning movement. The connecting means comprise a plurality of vertical pivot means 611 respectively extending between the free ends of each pair of arms 20 of the support members 2 and having each a pivot pin 6a turnably mounted in appropriate cavities formed in the opposite ends of the arms 20 of the supporting members 2, and two bands 6, having each a substantially vertical extending cross section. One of the bands 6 is placed at spaced portions thereof about the pivot pins 6a respectively located at the ends at one side of the supporting members 2, whereas the other band 6 is placed at spaced portions thereof about the pivot pins 6a respectively located at the other ends of the support members 2. A split sleeve 6c extends about each pivot pin 6a and the spaced portions of the band 6 respectively located about the respective pivot pin and portions of the band extending through the slot of the sleeve are engaged and clamped between the opposite end faces defining the slot, as most clearly shown in FIG. 11. Each of the bands 6 is preferably made from such a material that it may be folded in direction transverse to its elongation between the fixed portions thereof, but that the band in folded position will not sag in vertical direction. Bands woven from relative stiff plastic threads or fromsimilar relative stiff threadsare especially suitable for this purpose.

When the slats ll of the window blind are moved from an extended toward a gathered position, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, the bands 6 will inwardly bend between the portions thereof fixed to the pivot means db and when the slats are in the gathered position in which the supporting members 2 will abut against each other, the

' folded portions of the bands 6 will be located between the webs 2b of adjacent supporting members 2 so that the necessary room for the slat means in gathered position will not be increased by the folded bands 6.

A preferred construction of the pivot means according to applicants invention is partially shown in cross section in FIG. 1a. The pivot pin 6a of this construction has opposite ends 6a, only the lower one of which is shown in FIG. 1a which are eccentrically arranged with respect to the remainder of the pivot pin 6a. The band 6 is again wound about the central portion of the pivot pin 6a and a slotted sleeve 60 is provided, in the manner as described before about the central portion of the pivot pin 6a and the band portion wound thereabout.

The specific construction of the pivot means illustrated in FIG. 151 has the advantage, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, that end portions of adjacent supporting members 2 on adjacent slats of the window blind may completely abut against each other when the slats of the window blind are turned from the open toward the closed position. Of course in order to obtain this result the eccentric portions of the two pivot pins 6a respectively located at opposite ends of the corresponding supporting members 2 must respectively extend to opposite sides, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the ends of adjacent supporting members 2 may abut against each other, as shown in FIG. 4, when the slats and the supporting members thereon are turned to the closed position.

As evidenced from FIG. 3, such a substantially complete closing of the window blind cannot be obtained with pivot means shown in FIG. 1, since the two bands will necessarily be held transversely spaced from each' other by the central members 2d connecting the upper and the lower arms 2c of each supporting member 2. FIG. 5 shows schematically a window blind according to the present invention arranged in a window opening and the plurality of slats and supporting members 2 connected thereto are shown spaced from each other in a row in extended position and turned so that opposite ends of each supporting member are spaced respectively from opposite ends of the supporting member adjacent thereto. The upper and lower supporting members 2 connected to the slat 1 at the left end of the window blind, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, are connected by a flexible means 8 to the left side wall of the window opening. These flexible means preferably comprise a pair of flexible bands 8 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 extending respectively in a loop about the central portion 2d of the upper and lower connecting members 2 and being fastened at the free ends thereof in any convenient manner to the left side wall of the window opening, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Due to this construction, the left end slat 1, as viewed in FIG. 6, may be pushed directly against the left side wall of the window opening, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6, when the slats of the window blind are pushed toward the left to the gathered position thereof. A rod 7 of preferably rectangular cross section is connected, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, at opposite ends thereof to the upper and lower supporting members 2 of the slat means located at the right end, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, of the row of slats forming the window blind. This rod 7 can be gripped intermediate the ends thereof with one hand for moving the plurality of the slat means forming the window blind between the gathered and the extended position thereof and for turning the slat means in the extended position thereof about their respective pivot axes between an open and a closed position.

FIG. 6 more specifically also shows a window blind construction in which in addition to the upper rail means 5, shown in FIG. 1, also lower rail means 5 are provided, in which guide rollers 4 are guided which in turn are connected by connecting rods 3 to the lower supporting members 2 on each lower end of each slat 1. In a preferred form, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a, the guide rail means 5 comprises two hollow centrally slotted guide rails, as shown in the cross section of FIG. 6a, which are superimposed upon each other and which are preferably made integral with each other. In this construction the rollers 4 of adjacent slat means may alternately be arranged in the upper and lower rail of the rail means 5 shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a. In this construction the diameter of the rollers 4 may be slightly greater than the width of each supporting member 2 and the supporting members may still abut against each other in the gathered position of the slat means. Of course it is understood that the rail means 5 as shown in FIG. 6a, have in this construction to be used for the upper and lower rail means.

The Window blind of applicants construction may also include means for resiliently locking the window blind in extended position, and such means are shown in FIG. 6 in form of a spring 5a having an upwardly extended portion permitting movement of the roller 4 connected to the supporting member 2 at the right end of the row of slats 1, as viewed in FIG. 6, to slide freely over the curved portion of the spring 5a during movement of the aforementioned roller toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, whereby the spring 5a is resiliently deflected to engage behind the roller 4 after the same has passed over the upwardly extending portion of the spring 5a so as to re leasably lock the roller in position. The spring 511 is connected at the right end thereof to the rail means 5' by a screw or in any other convenient manner.

FIGS. 7a and 8a show a preferred construction for turnably supporting the supporting members 2 and this construction is especially used when upper and lower guide rail means 5 or 5' are provided. In this construction the central portion of the supporting member 2 is formed with an elongated cavity 10, preferably of suqare cross section, extending in axial direction partially through a central portion of the support member 2 and being closed at the upper end thereof by a plate 14b. Plate 14 is formed with a central opening therethrough and is provided with a. pair of lateral extending springy projections engaging respectively under noses formed at the open end of the cavity 16. Supporting rod 3 extends with a portion thereof through the opening in the plate 1412 into the cavity 19 and the rod 3 is formed at the end thereof located adjacent the inner end of the cavity 1% with a laterally projecting annular shoulder 12. The

, shoulder 12 is formed at outer portions thereof with a plurality of cavities 12 angularly spaced from each other, as clearly shown in FIG. 7a. A substantially quadrangular plate 11, formed with a central opening through which the supporting rod 3 extends, is located with slight clearance in the cavity 10 so that the plate 11 may move in longitudinal direction of the supporting rod 3 while being prevented from turning about the axis of the supporting rod 3. A pair of projections 13, shown in FIG. 8a as balls pressed in the plate 11 and fixedly held thereon, are projecting toward the shoulder 12 on the end of the supporting rod and the projections or balls 13 are arranged in such a manner so that they may selectively engage in two opposite cavities 12 formed in the shoulder 12. A coiled compression spring 9 is wound about the portion of the supporting rod 3 located in the cavity lit) and spring 9 engages with upper and lower ends thereof respectively the plates 14b and 11. Spring 9 presses thereby the projections 13 on the plate 11 into selected cavities 12' of the shoulder 12 at the end of the connecting rod 3 so that the supporting member may be selectively locked in two angular positions extending normal to each other when four cavities 12' are provided on the shoulder 12. If it is desired to lock the connecting member 2 also in different angular positions, then a greater number of cavities 12 would have to be pro- .vided in the shoulder 12. It is understood that the construction as shown in FIGS. 7a and 8a is used in an arrangement in which upper and lower guide rail means are provided as described in connection with FIG. 6 and it is further to be understood that in this case the upper and lower supporting members 2 on each slat means are provided with a construction as shown in FIGS. 7:: and 8a. Of course, the cavity 14 provided in the lower of the support members 2 has an open end at the bottom and the supporting rod 3 extends downwardly out of this cavity. The two springs 9 provided in such anarrangement for each slat will tension the latter in longitudinal direction.

The modification shown in FIGS. 7b and 8b ditfers from the above described arrangement shown in FIGS. 71; and 8a only in that a substantially cylindrical member 1441 is provided instead of the plate 715 for closing the open end of the cavity 10 and in this case the open end of the cavity is preferably cylindrical and formed with a screw thread in which a corresponding screw thread, formed at the portion of the member 14a extended into the cylindrical portion of the cavity, en-

gages.

FIGS. 9, 9a and show a modified arrangement for the support means respectively connected to each of the slat members 1. in this arrangement the supporting member 2e has a width which isonly a small fraction of the width of slat ii and extends over an edge portion thereof which is preferably folded about a stiffening member, now shown in the drawing. The transverse direction of the supporting member 2e is determined only by the space required to receive the supporting rod 3 and the elements connected thereto, which may include such elements as shown in F165. 7a, 8a or 712 and 8b. The supporting member 2e is formed of a tube of substantially rectangular or quadrangular cross section. By cutting out portions on two opposite side walls of the tube 2e and, by then bending the portions on the other two side walls remaining between the cutout portions substantially norrnal to the axis of the tube 2e and outwardly thereof in opposite directions, two pairs of arms projecting in opposite directions from the tube 2e are provided forming cavities 2a therebetween which serve to receive the pivot means 6b with the pivot pins Ea and the upright bands 6, as described. in connection with FIGS. 1 and la. Fastening flaps Z are similarly formed from the tube 2e integrally connected thereto and the flaps 2; are respectively bent in engagement with the folded edge portion of the slat 1 and connected thereto and the stiffening member inserted in the folded edge portion of the slat l by one or two rivets 15. The bands 6 will fold in this construction, asshown in FIG. 10, outwardly of the pivot means when the plurality of slats of the window blind are moved toward the gathered position thereof.

It is understood that the arrangement shown in FIGSQ, 9a and 10 include otherwise all necessary elements for supporting and operating of the window blind as described in connection with the preceding figures.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modification of a slotted sleeve 50' encompassing each of pivot pins ea and the portion of the bands 6 surrounding the pivot pin and the slotted sleeve 60 includes a pair of laterally extended portions so that the end edges of the extended portions project slightly beyond the width of the supporting member 2e. The supporting member 22 is provided at diagonal opposite edge portions thereof with abutment members 2g against which the lateral extending portions of the slotted sleeve 60' respectively abut when the slats ll of the blind are in the closed position thereof. The extension on the slotted sleeve be have the advantage to provide for a larger leverage arm during turning of the supporting members 2e and the slats connected thereto between the open and the closed-position which is of a special advanplurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable tage when the window blind is provided with a construction as shown in FIGS. 7a, 8a and 7b, 8b in which the individual slats may be releasably locked in the closed as well as the open position. The direction of the pull on the band 6 for turning the slats from the closed to the open position is shown by the arrow 16 and the turning direction of the member 2e is indicated by the arrow 1'7.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of window blinds differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a window blind having a plurality of elongated slats arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and turnable in the extended position about substantially vertical pivot axes between an open and a closed position, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully in said extended position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower support mem ber extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means and being each formed with a pair of elongated cut-outs extending respectively from opposite ends of said elongated support member towards each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms; support means connected at least to said upper support member of each slat means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto, said support including roller means connected at least to the upper support member of each slat means, and guide rail means extending transverse to said pivot axes for guiding the roller means of all slat means; connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turningmovement, said connecting means con.- prising a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means respectively extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of said support members and turnably mounted therein, and a pair of flexible bands having each a substantially vertically extending cross section and being respectively fixed atspaced portions thereof to said pivot means at opposite ends of said support members and said bands folding between the fixed portions thereof toward one side of said pivot means when said slat means are in said gathered position thereof; operating means fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means at one end of the row for moving said one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and-therewith all of said slat means between said. gathered and extended positions and for turning said slat means about their pivot axes; and flexible means connecting the slat means at the other end of the row to the side wall of a window opening so that the slat means at the other end of the row may abut against said side wall when all of said slat means are in said gathered position.

2. A window blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extended position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower support member extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means and being each formed with a pair of elongated cut-outs extending respectively from opposite ends of said elongated support member towards each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms; support means connected at least to said upper support member of each slat means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto, said support means including roller means connected at least to the upper support member of each slat means, and guide rail means extending transverse, to said pivot axes for guiding the roller means of all slat means; connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turning movement, said connecting means comprising a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means each including a substantially vertical pivot pin extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of said support members and having each opposite end portions eccentrically arranged with respect to the remainder of the pivot pin and respectively pivotally mounted in the free ends of said arms, and a bearing member mounted on said pivot pin between said opposite ends thereof, and said connecting means including a pair of flexible bands having each a substantially vertically extending cross section and being respectively fixed at spaced portions thereof to said bearing members of said pivot means at opposite ends of said support members and said bands folding between the fixed portions thereof toward one side of said pivot means when said slat means are in said gathered position thereof; operating means fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means at one end of the row for moving said one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and therewith all of said slat means between said gathered and extended positions and for turning said slat means about their pivot axes; and flexible means connecting the slat means at the other end of the row to the side wall of a window opening so that the slat means at the other end of the row may abut against said side wall when all of said slat means are in said gathered position.

3. A window blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extended position-about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower support member extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means substantially over the whole width thereof and being each formed with a pair of elongated cut-outs extending respectively from opposite ends of said elongated support member towards each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms; support means connected at least to said upper support member of each slat means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto, said support means including roller means connected at least to the upper support member of each slat means, and guide rail means extending transverse to said pivot axes for guiding the roller means of all slat means; connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turning movement, said connecting means comprising a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means each including a substantially vertical pivot pin extending respectively closely adjacent to the longitudinal edges of 10 tending cross section and being respectively fixed at spaced portions thereof to said bearing members of said pivot means at opposite ends of said support members and said bands folding between the fixed portions thereof toward the respective slat means between the free ends of each one side of said pivot means inwardly of said pivot means when said slat means are in said gathered position thereof; operating means fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means at one end of the row for moving said one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and therewith all of said slat means between said gathered and extended positions and for turning said slat means about their pivot axes; and flexible means connecting the slat means at the other end of the row to the side wall of a window opening so that the slat means at the other end of the row may abut against said side wall when all of said slat means are in said gathered position.

4. A window blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable towards and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extending position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower support member extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means; a pair of support means respectively connected to said upper and lower support members of each slat means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto each of said support means including guide means fixed to the respective support member and extending along the pivot axis of the respective slat means, a supporting rod extending along said pivot axis and guided by said guide means movable in longitudinal direction and turnable about its axis, said supporting rod being formed at one end thereof directed toward the respective slat means with a radially projecting shoulder formed with a plurality of angularly spaced cavities, an abutment member slidably mounted on said supporting rod and having a pair of projections adapted to selectively engage in two of said angularly spaced cavities, means formed in said support member for preventing turning of said abutment member about the axis of said supporting rod, spring means having opposite ends respectively engaging said guide means and said abutment member for pressing the latter against said shoulder and for pressing said projections into the cavities so as to releasably fix the respective support member and the slat means fixed thereto in a selected angular position, roller means turnably mounted at the other end of said supporting rod; a pair of guide rail means extending transverse to the elongation of said slat means respectively above and below the latter for respectively guiding said roller means forming part of the support means respectively connected to said upper and lower support members; connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turning movement; and operating means fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means at one end of the row for moving said one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and therewith all of said slat means between said gathered and extended positions and for turning said slat means about their pivot axes.

5. A window blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathered position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extended position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot r i axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower Sup port member extending transverse to the elongation of v the respective slat means and being each formed with a pair of elongated cut-outs extending respectively from opposite ends of said elongated support member towards each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms; support means connected at least to said upper support member of each slat means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto, said support means including roller means connected at least to the upper support member of each slat means, and guide rail means extending transverse to said pivot axes for guiding the roller means of all slat means; connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turning movement, said connecting means comprising a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means each including a substantially vertical pivot pin extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of said support members and respectively pivotally mounted in the free ends of said arms, and a bearing member mounted on said pivot pin between said opposite ends thereof and having a portion extending laterally beyond the respective support member, and said connecting means including a pairof flexible bands having each a substantially vertically extending cross section and being respectively fixed at spaced portions thereof to said bearing members of said pivot means at opposite ends of said support members and said bands folding between the fixed portions thereof toward one side of said pivot means when said slat means are in said gathered position thereof; abutment means on said support member and abutting against said laterally extending portion of said bearing member whe said slat means are in said extended and closed position thereof; operating means fixed to the upper and lower support member of the slat means at one end of the row for moving said one slat means toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto and therewith all of said slat means betweensaid gathered and extended positions and for turning said slat means about their pivot axes; and flexible means connecting the slat means at the other end of the row to the side wall of a Window opening so that the slat means at the other end of the row may abut against said side wall when all of said slat means are in said gathered position.

6. A window blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated slat means arranged in a row movable toward and away from each other between a gathcred position and an extended position and respectively turnable in said extended position about spaced substantially vertical pivot axes between an open position in which adjacent slat means extend in substantially parallel planes substantially normal to a plane passing through their pivot axes and a closed position in which the longitudinal edges of adjacent slat means are closely adjacent each other, each of said slat means having an upper and lower support member extending transverse to the elongation of the respective slat means and being each formed with a pair of elongated cutouts extending respectively from opposite ends of said elongated support member towards each other so as to form at each end of each support member a pair of substantially parallel arms; support means connected at least to said upper support member of each slat'means for supporting said slat means turnable about its pivot axis and movable transverse to said axis toward and away from the slat means adjacent thereto, said support means including follower means connected at least to the upper support member of each slat means, and guide railmeans extending transverse to said pivot axes for guiding the follower means of all slat means; and connecting means operatively connecting said slat means for simultaneous transverse and turning movement, said connecting means comprising a plurality of substantially vertical pivot means respectively extending between the free ends of each pair of arms of said support members and turnably mounted therein, and a pair of flexible bands having each a substantially vertically extending cross section and being respectively fixed at spaced portions thereof to said pivot means at opposite ends of said support members and said bands folding between the fixed portions thereof toward one side of said pivot means when said slat means are in said gathered position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,014,525 Zytlcn Dec. 26, 1961 3,028,910 Bopp et a1. Apr. 10, 1962 3,079,988 Green Mar. 5, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,536 France Apr. 8, 1953 

1. A WINDOW BLIND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SLAT MEANS ARRANGED IN A ROW MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BETWEEN A GATHERED POSITION AND AN EXTENDED POSITION AND RESPECTIVELY TURNABLE IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION ABOUT SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PIVOT AXES BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH ADJACENT SLAT MEANS EXTEND IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THEIR PIVOT AXES AND A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF ADJACENT SLAT MEANS ARE CLOSELY ADJACENT EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID SLAT MEANS HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER SUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO THE ELONGATION OF THE RESPECTIVE SLAT MEANS AND BEING EACH FORMED WITH A PAIR OF ELONGATED CUT-OUTS EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED SUPPORT MEMBER TOWARDS EACH OTHER SO AS TO FORM AT EACH END OF EACH SUPPORT MEMBER A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ARMS; SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED AT LEAST TO SAID UPPER SUPPORT MEMBER OF EACH SLAT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID SLAT MEANS TURNABLE ABOUT ITS PIVOT AXIS AND MOVABLE TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SLAT MEANS ADJACENT THERETO, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING ROLLER MEANS CONNECTED AT LEAST TO THE UPPER SUPPORT MEMBER OF EACH SLAT MEANS, AND GUIDE RAIL MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID PIVOT AXES FOR GUIDING THE ROLLER MEANS OF ALL SLAT MEANS; CONNECTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID SLAT MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUS TRANSVERSE AND TURNING MOVEMENT, SAID CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PIVOT MEANS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF EACH PAIR OF ARMS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND TURNABLY MOUNTED THEREIN, AND A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE BANDS HAVING EACH A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING CROSS SECTION AND BEING RESPECTIVELY FIXED AT SPACED PORTIONS THEREOF TO SAID PIVOT MEANS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND SAID BANDS FOLDING BETWEEN THE FIXED PORTIONS THEREOF TOWARD ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT MEANS WHEN SAID SLAT MEANS ARE IN SAID GATHERED POSITION THEREOF; OPERATING MEANS FIXED TO THE UPPER AND LOWER SUPPORT MEMBER OF THE SLAT MEANS AT ONE END OF THE ROW FOR MOVING SAID ONE SLAT MEANS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SLAT MEANS ADJACENT THERETO AND THEREWITH ALL OF SAID SLAT MEANS BETWEEN SAID GATHERED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS AND FOR TURNING SAID SLAT MEANS ABOUT THEIR PIVOT AXES; AND FLEXIBLE MEANS CONNECTING THE SLAT MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE ROW TO THE SIDE WALL OF A WINDOW OPENING SO THAT THE SLAT MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE ROW MAY ABUT AGAINST SAID SIDE WALL WHEN ALL OF SAID SLAT MEANS ARE IN SAID GATHERED POSITION. 